Chapter 120: HER TEARS
Ashen did not slow until they were back in their chambers. He set Lumina gently on the edge of the bed and knelt before her, holding her face in both hands.
"Lumina." His voice was so low that you could hardly hear it but it held urgency, his eyes searching her pale face. "Tell me what happened."
She could not answer, her throat closed up, her chest heaving with shallow breaths.
She only shook her head, reaching for him blindly until her fingers found his face.
"I... I..," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Just stay... Do not leave me tonight."
Ashen’s heart twisted painfully. He had never seen her like this not even on the day she had been brought here from the Celestial Realm. She was trembling, her fingers clutching at him as if he might vanish.
He climbed onto the bed beside her and pulled her into his arms. "I am here, I am not leaving." he spoke softly, pressing his forehead to hers.
"You are safe now." But Lumina only clung tighter, as that memory played over and over in her head.
Her body was too hot, the heat coming off her made him frown, and a flush had crept into her cheeks that had nothing to do with shyness.
"Lumina," he called carefully, brushing her hair away from her face. "You are burning up."
"I do not care," she said stubbornly, her voice a whisper against his chest. "I just want you. I want you close. Please..." Ashen’s breath caught.
She had never begged him like this before, never spoken with this kind of desperation. Her hands moved up, fisting in his shirt as if trying to pull him down to her.
"Lumina..."
"Please, I... don’t want to think about it," she said suddenly, her voice breaking. "I want to feel you. I want you to make it stop hurting. I want Ashen all over me." His throat tightened.
He had wanted her countless times, but he had never wanted to frighten her or take advantage of her fear.
Yet now, seeing her cry and cling to him, seeing her so desperate that her tears were soaking through his clothes, it tore him apart.
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead first, gently, lingering there until he felt her breathing slow just slightly. Then he kissed the corner of her lips, waiting for her to turn toward him.
She did, eagerly.. She just wants the memory of Adam to disappear from her head. She wanted Ashen all over her, she wanted his scene to be over her:
Their mouths met, soft at first, then deeper as her hands slid up his chest. Ashen cupped her face, kissing her slowly, carefully as though reminding her that she was his, that she was safe.
When she whimpered against his lips, he pulled her closer, one hand sliding to her back as if to hold her together.
"I am here," he murmured between kisses, his voice almost a growl. "No one will ever touch you again."
Her fingers tangled in his hair. "Do not stop," she whispered.
Ashen kissed her again, harder this time, until she was breathless and clinging to him. His hand trailed down her side, and she arched into his touch, desperate for more.
But just when he was about to give in completely, his eyes caught something.
A dark mark on her neck, he pulled back, his breath sharp. His fingers brushed over the spot. She flinched at the pain. He stared deeply to check the bruise in the shape of fingers.
"Who did this?" His voice was low but has totally changed to that of a cold tone.
Lumina flinched at the change in his tone. "Ashen..."
"There are more," he said, his voice shaking with barely restrained fury.
He tilted her chin, saw another faint hickey just below her collarbone. Something inside him snapped.
"No... one.." she mumbled and he stood suddenly, grabbing the water jug and pouring some of it over a cloth before gently pressing it to her face and neck.
"Tell me who did this to you.." he said quietly, almost to himself. "Some you dare lie... I can tell someone did this to you."
Her body felt heavier now, the poison burning through her blood. She whimpered and tried to sit up, but Ashen gently pushed her back against the pillows.
Even though he badly wanted to force her to talk, he knew this wasn’t the right time.
"Rest," he ordered softly.
When she tried to protest, he pressed a kiss to her temple. "Sleep, My Lady. I will be here." he let out now, pulling off her blind fold.
Her eyelids fluttered, her breathing slowing.
Ashen’s jaw clenched as he watched her finally drift into sleep. Only then did he rise and call for Aria.
Aria appeared within seconds, wings beating like a storm as she hovered near the bed.
"What happened?" He asked sharply, taking one look at Lumina as Aria morphed into her form.
"She was abducted," Aria answered.
Ashenfist clenched but he forced in a smile."Who did it?"
Aria bow down as she finally said as she bowed down "Crown Prince Adam."
The name was enough to send a cold fury through him. His fists clenched at his sides. "I will kill him."
He turned toward the door ready to stand from the bed, but before he could take a step, a small hand grabbed his wrist.
He froze.
Lumina was still asleep, but her fingers were curled tight around him, as though even in dreams she could not bear for him to leave.
His chest ached seeing this. Slowly, he sat back down, brushing her hair back from her face. "I will not go," he whispered.
Aria looked at him, then nodded once. "My Lord, what would you want me to do on your behalf.." Ashen glanced at her with fire burning inside of that gaze.
"Tomorrow," Ashen answered, now glancing back at his sleeping wife, never taking his eyes off Lumina.
"I will deal with him personally tomorrow."
Aria vanished silently, leaving them alone.
Ashen stretched out beside Lumina, pulling her gently into his arms. She stirred in her sleep, pressing closer, and he held her there, his hand stroking her back until her breathing deepened again.
His heart burned with fury but he had to swallow it down.